The use of solar energy can enhance the conversion of carbon dioxide into energy-rich products: stepping towards artificial photosynthesis

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences physical, and engineering sciences, 2013-08, Vol.371 (1996), p.20120111-20120111
• Main Authors: Aresta, Michele, Dibenedetto, Angela, Angelini, Antonella
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon Dioxide; Chemicals; Energy Products; Photochemical; Photovoltaic; Solar Energy
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 1471-2962
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2012.0111

The need to cut CO2 emission into the atmosphere is pushing scientists and technologists to discover and implement new strategies that may be effective for controlling the CO2 atmospheric level (and its possible effects on climate change). One option is the capture of CO2 from power plant flue gases or other industrial processes to avoid it entering the atmosphere. The captured CO2 can be either disposed in natural fields (geological cavities, spent gas or oil wells, coal beads, aquifers; even oceans have been proposed) or used as a source of carbon in synthetic processes. In this paper, we present the options for CO2 utilization and make an analysis of possible solutions for the conversion of large volumes of CO2 by either combining it with H2, that must be generated from water, or by directly converting it into fuels by electrolysis in water using solar energy. A CO2-H2-based economy may address the issue of reducing the environmental burden of energy production, also saving fossil carbon for future generations. The integration of CO2 capture and utilization with CO2 capture and storage would result in a more economically and energetically viable practice of CO2 capture.